She was alone in her room on that day. She sat there, hugging her knees to her chest, staring at the clock before her impatiently.

"I just want this day to end!" she continuously grumbled, her purple eyes snapping angrily. Her long dark blue cloak was wrapped around her slim body; her shoulder length blue-purple hair was hidden beneath her raised hood.

"Hey, Raven?" some one called from behind her closed door, accompanied by a knock. The teen-aged girl stood with a sigh and opened her door a crack. Standing there was a masked boy about the same age as her. His jet black hair was pulled back into a style that looked sort of spikes; clothed in a black and yellow short cape; a red t-shirt with green sleeves and a yellow "R" on a black background; green pants with a yellow utility belt; and black steel toed boots.

"Yes?" she asked dryly, giving him a look that clearly said she didn't want to be bothered.

"Are you hungry?" he asked with a sly grin. "Cy and BB got us some food."

Giving him a level look, the girl, Raven, nodded slowly. "I suppose…" By the emotion in her voice, the boy, Robin, could tell she was suspicious. But, he knew, she was always suspicious when their little green friend was involved.

"C'mon then." Still with that sly grin in place, he grabbed her arm and pulled her along the hallway. Raven sighed heavily and let him lead her along through the many hallways of Titan's Tower.

They stopped just outside the closed door of the living room.

"Okay, here we go!"

"'Go'? 'Go' where?" the girl asked, annoyance laced in her voice. Her only answer was Robin opening the double doors wide and a loud "SURPRISE!" almost knocked her off her feet. "WHAT THE HELL?" she screamed.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RAVEN!"

"How did you know it was my birthday?" the teen seethed, her eye twitching madly.

The little green teen, Beast-Boy stepped forward sheepishly. "We," he started, but stopped when everyone glared at him, "I mean, I did some surfing around on the computers and found some password protected files, and I kinda…you know, hacked into them…" He grinned sheepishly with a hand behind his head.

Raven took a look around the room, her purple eyes narrowed dangerously. "There is nothing to celebrate about this day!" she said tersely. Long tendrils of black power tore down the "Happy Birthday Raven!" banner, ripped through the food on the long banquet table, and over turned several pieces of furniture. Whirling around angrily, the teen-aged girl stormed out of the room.

"Hey! Raven!" Robin caught up with her and grabbed her arm. "What's the matter with you?"

"Nothing! Nothing is 'the matter' with me!" she snapped, trying to wrench her arm out of his grasp; no luck. Her eyes narrowed angrily, she stared into his eyes with a look that clearly said "I'm not listening to your complaints!"

"Raven," the boy sighed, "you've been in my mind, remember? I can tell that you're upset about something. All I want to know is what." Raven looked away from him, not meeting his eyes.

"There are places in my mind no one should ever see," she said quietly, almost venomously. "You wouldn't understand."

"At least let me try."

"I can't! Okay! I just can't risk hurting you! In anyway…"

"Raven…can I at least try? Please. All I want to do is help…"

"You're too special to this team… I don't want to endanger your thinking with mine. Please, Robin…I just can't." The black fire of her magic surrounded her body and she melted into the floor.

>>

"Why…" Raven whispered, miserable. She was leaning against her closed door. Her dimly lit room stood before her. "Why does he do this to me…?" She pulled her hood back from her face as she slowly walked to her bed. "I don't understand…"

You never did, Raven, someone whispered at her ear. Jumping with a start, she whirled around with her hand glowing black.

"Who's there!" she shouted. Her hair flew around her face as she looked about the room: no one was there.

How considerate of you to forget your own father, Daughter Raven, the same voice laughed. It was louder, all around her, in every corner of her room, her mind.

"N-no!" Her voice choked on the word. Before her now stood a great giant of a man that was not a man. He was tall, very tall—his head almost hit the ceiling—and very red. His long white hair was pulled away from his face in a semi ponytail; His large arms bulged at his shoulders, as did his legs. All he wore was a dark brown loincloth, dark grey arm bracers, and a few red-colored power stones.

He smiled cruelly at her. Long time no see, my child. His demonic yellow eyes narrowed dangerously. Raven just wanted to run. She never liked being with her father much any way. The girl turned to do so only to be surrounded by a ring of fire.

"N-no!" she gasped as the flames rose higher and higher. A long tendril snaked around her, catching her gaze as it rose in mid-air before her bed, separating her father from herself. Her purple eyes widened as it took the shape of an "S" with a single line crossing it out.

It will begin. Whether you like it or not. His cold laughter filled her ears, her mind, and her entire body. She was cold, numb…dying.

"Raven!" The call broke her out of her trance even as her door slammed open. "Raven!" It was Robin.

"Robin…" she breathed, and passed out.

>>

I lifted Raven up and called to Cyborg and Starfire to come quick.

"Come on, Raven," I whispered, already hearing my voice going hoarse. "Please, please be okay…" Cyborg came up behind me and kneeled pulling up his arm and switching out his scanner.

"She'll be okay, man," he said. "She's just in shock. From what, I don't know."

I nodded and lifted her. Glaring into her room, I growled. "For the time being, I don't trust her in there. What put her in this condition could still be there. Star, Beast Boy," I looked at the two other team members who'd just ran up. "Check to see if there's anything in her room. I don't think I need to tell you to be careful and not disturb anything." I looked especially at Beast Boy when I said this. He just grinned sheepishly and slipped into the room. Starfire looked at me, confused and questioning. I just shook my head and motioned her inside. Cyborg followed me as I took Raven to the infirmary and laid her down on one of the hard medical beds. She made a small whimper of protest and grabbed my hand in her "sleep".

"Shush, its okay, Raven," I said softly, stroking her hair gently. "I'm not leaving you."

"But…not problem…Robin…" she murmured softly. I stroked her hair from her face, sighed and stood. Cyborg was looking at me funny.

"Are you…" He stopped when I glared at him. "Know what? Never mind."

"I have to find who ever did this to her…" I growled.

"Easy, man," Cy said, grabbing my shoulder gently. "Remember last time you said that? You ended up breaking not only your arm, man, but your leg as well. Just try not to let your anger get in the way, okay?"

I nodded. "I'll try, Cy." I slowly walked out of the room. At the door, I cast a long, mournful look to Raven. "Take care of her for me."

"I will, man," he said with a smile. "You don't gotta worry about that." I nodded and left. I had just reached our front door when there was a buzzing ring throughout the entire tower. I gritted my teeth against the sound, and slammed open the door.

"Um…hello?"

Standing there was a teenaged girl with long, braided brown hair and light green eyes. She was slender, but what really caught my attention was the set of red-brown cat ears on her head, the small, bright white colored bird wings on her back, and the fact that her pupils were shaped like a cat's.

"You're…Robin, aren't you?" she asked, looking nervous.

"Yes…"

She cleared her throat and looked around nervously. "Do…do you mind if I come in and talk to…to Cyborg?"

"Um…" I blinked at her. Since when did people come to the Tower to talk to us? Shrugging, I added, "Sure. Follow me." I led her to the infirmary, slightly hurt at seeing Raven's body, now floating over her bed, still motionless. Cyborg stood over the control panel next to her. Clearing my throat, I announced, "Cy, you have a visitor." He looked up, his brow furrowed.

"Hi. Can you come back at another time?" he asked. "I'm kinda in the middle of something."

"This…can't wait. Brother Blood…is on his way…here looking for…her." The girl made a motion at Raven, her lower lip quivering and her eyes overly bright. "I'll…probably be…be punished for telling you, uh…this, but I have to… Even…even if I am…betraying my school…"

"What did you…say?" I asked, looking at the girl incredulously. Her lower lip quivered faster and her eyes rimmed with tears. "You're working for Blood!"

"No! No! I'd never work for him on purpose! My mother signed me up for…his school…and nothing's ever been the same since!" Tears slowly fell down her face, but neither Cyborg nor I would touch her.

"I can't believe that," he growled, his eyes narrowed. "There's no way Blood would let anyone leave for this."

"Guys! What's going on!" Beast Boy and Starfire had just walked in. Star looked at the girl, confusion written all over her face.

"Who is this girl? And why is she crying?" she asked, looking to Cyborg and myself.

"She's working for Blood," the tall mechanical teen snarled. The newcomer winced visibly, a small whimper escaping her lips.

"C'mon guys! Give 'er a chance to explain herself!" Beast Boy was at her side, an arm around her shoulders. She looked up at him with wide eyes, almost as if no one had touched her before.

I stared at her hunched over form, then glanced over at BB. "Fine. Why are you here?"

She winced again at my tone and looked up at me pleadingly. "Brother Blood knows…that she is harmed. He said…that his best…students would go…and take her to him… He said there…was some…sort of…of reward involved…I think… He wasn't very specific…" Her quiet voice was choked, halting. Her light green eyes were bright in her darkly tanned face, her brown hair over her shoulder as she toyed with the ends, her ears drooping with the rest of her. BB's arm tightened around her.

"Have you ever heard of someone doing this, guys?" he asked, his green eyes holding an angry glint.

We were all silent. I looked away from the girl, and moved to stand next to Raven's sick bed. Cy just looked out the window sullenly. Star looked at each of us in turn.

"I am not sure…" she said softly. "But I do believe Beast Boy is right… Has anyone from the H.I.V.E. ever come to us like this before?"

"It doesn't matter, Star," I growled. "We don't know if she's spying on us!"

The girl gasped audibly. "I…I'd never do that! I…I do not like Brother Blood…but as long as he…as he can control me…I cannot disobey him except like this…" She looked up at me, breaking away from BB's hold and taking my hand. "Please believe me!" When I just stared at her, she let me go. "I…see…" she added sadly. "I'll…just go now… I can only hope Brother Blood does not find out I was here…" Slowly she shuffled to the infirmary door. Casting a side long look at Cyborg, she added, "I just thought you'd…understand me…because you were also…Brother Blood's…student…"

Slowly the door closed behind her. BB looked at Cyborg and me incredulously.

"Dudes! How can you do something like that!" he cried. "She just fucking risked her life to come in here! Just like you did when you contacted us, Cyborg! You, more than anyone should know what she's going through!" With those words, he stormed out of the infirmary.

"Its not the same…" Cyborg said quietly, more to himself than me or Star. "I'm machine…she isn't…"

>>

I could slowly feel the life draining out of my body. On some level I marveled at how much it hurt, but, for the most part, I was captivated by the powerful strength of the currents. Currents, in fire. Imagine that! I smiled. Death. What a welcoming embrace…

"Slade." The voice was cold, calculating, and powerful. I smiled and kneeled before my master. "It is almost time. Bring her here." I nodded, stood, and bowed.

I did not need to ask who "she" was. I already knew her, very well in fact.

>>

She woke with a start, her eyes flying open wildly, her hand clutching her heart. "N-no…I, I won't do it!" she whispered hoarsely.

"Raven?" a cool, soft voice murmured. Gentle hands held me in a tight embrace. "What's the matter?"

Her eyes were sad, downcast. "Nothing, Robin… I'll be fine. It was just a bad dream…" He nodded and leaned her back into the pillows.

"You should sleep," he murmured. "We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow…remember?"

She smiled sleepily. "Yes, I remember." Slowly, her eyes dropped in to place, and she was asleep.

Robin gently stroked her hair out of her face, a small smile on his own.

Yes, indeed they had a big day planned. And he was not gonna let anything ruin it.

>>

I walked into the infirmary early the next morning. It was almost eleven, and I was hoping Raven was up.

Thankfully, she was.

"Hey, how ya feeling?"

She smiled up at me. "Fine, thank you."

"Are you ready to go?" I knew I was grinning sheepishly. She'd just woken up from her "issue" and already I was begging her to come with me! Could I get any more heartless! "I mean, if you're up to it…?" I added quickly.

"Sure," she said, throwing her legs over the side of her sick-bed. When she stood, she wobbled a little and would have fallen had I not caught her. With a sheepish grin, she added, "Or not…"

I shook my head and laid her back on to the bed. "I guess we could call in a rain check?"

"Yeah, I guess so…" Her smile, always captivating, was sad.

"Is something wrong?"

She shook her head. "No… I've just been looking forward to this all week…and now we can't do anything!" She sighed. "I'm sorry… I know you were as anxious as I was."

"Its okay, Raven." We fell into a sort of awkward silence. She sat on her bed, her eyes staring at her bed sheets, almost clouded over by some emotion.

"Robin…" she murmured. When she looked at me, I couldn't help but feel my heart twang in sorrow. Her eyes, normally dark and emotionless, were now clouded over with worry. "I'm sorry…I'm really, really sorry." A light misty sheen of water gathered around her eyes.

"It's okay!" I said, wrapping my arms around her tightly. "It's okay! You don't have to apologize! It's not that big a deal!"

"Yes it is! You…it's me…it's all me…" A small sob escaped her lips. "It's…my fault…everything. Everything is my fault. Slade coming back…my father… No, never mind…"

"Raven…please tell me what's going on."

"I can't, Robin… I just can't…"

I left it at that. With a sigh, I told her that I should go help Beast Boy and Cyborg figure out what to do about that girl who was here last night. She smiled haltingly and said that was okay. We both agreed that she would rest as we worked.

"Any idea who she was?" I asked as I quickly strolled into our living room. Star and Beast Boy shook their heads, but Cy said nothing. He didn't even look up at me when Star touched his arm.

"Friend," she said worriedly. "Are you well?"

"No, Star… I've just figured out who that girl was." He looked at me, his eyes confused. "I don't know her name, but I recognized her…well, somewhat. When I put her description into the computer, it pulled out this."

Pushing a button on the computer's control panel and a screen with the girl's picture popped up on our main screen with some details about her body and such.

"'Name, Cassie; nicknamed Kalani, Cass, and Kal by her few friends'," I read aloud. "'Blood type, O+; Age, fifteen years; five foot, two inches; one hundred and twenty-five pounds; part cat, part eagle.' Wait, she's part cat and bird?" Cy nodded.

"Don't know how that happened, but it did," Cy said, almost sadly. "Somethin' about how a scientist kidnapped her or somethin'… Well, whatever it was, it made her not like to be around people. This is probably why I didn't recognize her immediately."

I nodded, staring at her face intently. Her light-hazel eyes looked down at me, her cat shaped pupils really catching my eyes. Her red-brown colored ears drooped slightly, and the small wings at her back seemed to be sagging lifelessly. Even if I had not seen her last night, I would have known that she was depressed. Maybe…maybe I shouldn't have lost my temper like that…

Well, I guess it was too late now. We'll just have to deal with this at another time.

>>

A/N: Well, what did you think? So far so good, ne? Okay, not really… Hopefully I'll be able to clear up a lot of stuff in the next chapter…or not. At least it's a longer chapter than usual, seven pages! W00t-v

Sofia: ……and people say I'M crazy!

You are.

Sofia: …shut up.

-Victory sign- Okay, ja!